Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women are known to have died within one month of operations for termination of pregnancy notified under the Abortion Regulations in each year since 1997; and what cause of death was recorded on the death certificate in each case.

Caroline Flint: The confidential inquiry into maternal and child health reports information on deaths following termination of pregnancy up to one year after the event. In the period 1997 to 2002 there were only seven such deaths known to the inquiry. Further information is contained within the two triennial reports on confidential inquiries intomaternal deaths in the United Kingdom for theperiods 1997-99 and 2000-02, which are available at www.cemach.org.uk.

Arun Community Hospital

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to be in a position to decide onthe future of the Arun community hospital in Littlehampton.

Caroline Flint: Responsibility for decisions on the future of Arun community hospital rests with the local national health service.

Childhood Immunisation Services

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices have opted out of providing childhood immunisation services following the introduction of the new GP contract in 2003; and where each is located.

Caroline Flint: In 2004, 6.3 per cent. of general medical services (CMS) partnerships had opted out of providing childhood immunisation services. In 2005, the proportion of GMS partnerships opting out was reported to be 36.7 per cent.
	Comparison between 2004 and 2005 childhood immunisation services opt-out data should be undertaken with caution. Data as at 30 September 2004 was the first year in which opt-out data was collected on a partnership basis following the change in the general practitioner (GP) contract in April 2004. The figures published as at 30 September 2005 (a revision of earlier collected data) shows a great increase in the number of partnerships opting-out of childhood immunisation services, with no corresponding explanation of the increase.
	The 2004 and 2005 data is published in full by The Information Centre for health and social care and can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/10/73/41/04107341.xls. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	However, as part of its statutory duties, each primary care trust, under section 16CC of the National Health Services Act 1977(a), must provide a childhood immunisation scheme. If a GP opts out, then one per cent. is removed from the GPs global sum payment. This allows the primary care trust to re-provide the service with another contractor or to self-provide.

Connecting for Health

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her latest estimate is of the total implementation costs of Connecting for Health, including the cost of local implementation.

Caroline Flint: The value of contracts let for thecore components of the national programme for information technology, which is being delivered by the department's NHS Connecting for Health Agency, amounts to £6.2 billion over 10 years and this has not increased. Information about local national health service expenditure on implementing the programme, separate from the totality of NHS spending on information technology, is not collected centrally.
	However, the National Audit Office (NAO) have calculated that the full gross cost of the programme including national contracts and legitimately approved additions, other central expenditure, and local implementation costs is approximately £12.4 billion at 2004-05 prices. But this figure does not take into account anticipated savings in the price paid by the NHS for information technology goods and services due to the central buying power of NHS Connecting for Health, or in NHS staff time saved through using the programme's systems and services. The NAO report acknowledges an independent evaluation that confirms that £4.5 billion has been saved by central rather than local procurement and also acknowledges a further £860 million of savings achieved through centrally negotiated enterprise wide arrangements.

Departmental Documents

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which  (a) individuals and  (b) organisations received an embargoed copy of each (i) consultation document and (ii) White Paper produced by her Department in 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information sought by the hon. Member with respect to all White Paper consultation documents could only be supplied at disproportionate cost.
	Embargoed copies of the "Our health, our care, our say" White Paper were provided on the day of publication to Parliament under the usual conventions, to journalists and to seven members of the citizen's panel who advised on the development of the White Paper.

Digital Hearing Aids

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been made available for the introduction of digital hearing aids; and if she will make a statement on the progress of their introduction.

Ivan Lewis: The modernising hearing aids service programme (MHAS) was managed by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), on behalf of the Department from 2000 to 2005. Through this programme, the Government have invested£125 million to ensure that by 2005 all national health service hearing aid services could routinely fit modern digital hearing aids.
	There have been other significant improvements:
	working with the RNID we have ensured that high quality digital hearing aids are now available throughout the NHS with an estimated 750,000 people fitted with digital hearing aids by the NHS;
	the current public private partnership is also proving very successful; by February 2006 approximately 68,600 patients had been fitted with a hearing aid; and
	RNID and NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency working together have negotiated a reduction in the cost to the NHS of digital hearing aids.

NHS Information Technology

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to achieve adoption and acceptance of the NHS IT programme by trust executives since 2002; and what estimate she has made of future levels of adoption.

Caroline Flint: Following publication of the strategy 'Delivering 21(st) Century IT support for the NHS', the NHS chief executive wrote to the chief executives of all national health service bodies in September 2003 explaining their responsibilities for implementing the national programme for information technology (NPfTT) and for using programme contracts.
	Local programmes, led by trust executives and supported from the Department, have always been at the heart of implementation, taking responsibility for planning the pace and sequence of deployments. In addition, the Department has routinely used its planning and performance management regime to support local implementation of the national programme. For example, during 2004 annual planning round, the NHS were provided with targets relating to the planning and implementation of the programme. Similarly, in June 2005, the Department wrote to all strategic health authority (SHA) chief executives requiring the establishment of integrated service improvement programmes as a vehicle for bringing together benefits and improvements from current NHS initiatives and programmes, including NPfTT. In November 2005 the Department's delivery director reiterated the importance of giving close attention to issues relating to delivery of the programme, and that implementation and use of NPfIT systems and services should be one of the key priorities of all NHS organisations.
	The new SHA and primary care trust chief executives will in future be the senior responsible owners for implementation of the national programme in their areas.
	We remain on track to complete the national programme, as planned, by 2010.

NHS IT Support

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the contracting timetable in paragraph 4.4.1 of her Delivering 21st century IT support for the NHS, how many of those procurements have been made; when they were made; from whom; and what the value is of the contract in each case.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the tables. Contract values are for the whole life of the contract.
	
		
			  Procurement  When  Contractor  Value (£ million) 
			 E-mail and directory services(1) September 2002 EDS 120 
			 
			 Privacy-enhancing technologies (2)— (2)— (2)— 
			 
			 Networking services February 2004 BT 530 
			 
			 National electronic Library for Health (NeLH) April-August 2003 See separate table 4.6 
			 
			 NHS Wide Clearing Service December 2003 BT (3)— 
			 
			 Ambulance radio procurement July 2005 Airwave 02 Ltd. 390 
			 (1) Contract subsequently terminated in March 2004 and re-let to Cable and Wireless in July 2004 at a contract value of between £50 million and £90 million depending on take-up. (2 )No separate procurement. Functionality specified in all core National Programme for Information Technology system contracts. (3) Procured as the Secondary Uses Service as part of the Spine contract. 
		
	
	
		
			  NeLH components 
			  Section/lot  Contractor 
			  Health Information Environment  
			 Web hosting Eduserv 
			 Access management Eduserv 
			 Specialist consultancy Not awarded 
			 Search metadata TRIP Ltd. 
			   
			  Content  
			 Current news analysis service University of York 
			 Clinical guidelines database University of Sheffield 
			   
			  Specialist libraries  
			 Cancer Oxford Radcliffe 
			 Child health Sheffield Childrens Hospital 
			 Communicable diseases City University 
			 Emergency care University of Warwick 
			 Ear, nose and throat Oxford Radcliffe 
			 Eyes and vision Moorfields Eye Hospital 
			 Genetics Genepool 
			 Health management Kings Fund 
			 Old age Oxford Radcliffe 
			 Learning disabilities Oxford Radcliffe 
			 Patients and public involvement College of Health 
			 Mental health Oxford Radcliffe 
			 Nutrition University of Warwick 
			 Oral health University College Hospital Wales 
			 Respiratory medicine Sheffield University 
			 Skin conditions Nottingham 
			 Women's health Oxford Radcliffe

NHS Staff

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average earnings were of a  (a) doctor,  (b) dentist and  (c) nurse in (i) 1979, (ii) 1997 and (iii) the most recent period for which figures are available, in (A) nominal and (B) real terms.

Rosie Winterton: The available information is shown in the following tables. Table one shows the average earnings of doctors in the hospital and community health services and of qualified nurses and midwives in 1998 and 2004 based on the national health service staff earnings survey. This data is not available prior to 1998. Table two shows the intended average net income for general medical practitioners in 1979-80 and 1997-98 and their estimated average net income in 2004-05. Table three shows average general dental service (CDS) income for dentists with a reasonable CDS commitment in 1997-98 and 2004-05. Figures are not available on a comparable basis for previous years.
	
		
			  Table 1:Average estimated total earnings for all doctors in the hospital and community health services and qualified nurses and midwives, England 
			   Estimated annualised average total earnings (£) 
			   1998  2004 
			   Nominal  Real terms  Nominal  Real terms 
			 All hospital and community health services doctors 44,700 53,500 67,700 70,800 
			 Qualified nurses and midwives 19,600 23,500 26,400 27,600 
			  Notes:1. The NHS earnings survey is based on a sample of payroll data from approximately 50 per cent. of NHS trusts. 2. Earnings figures are based on monthly payments in August, multiplied by 12 to give annual equivalent amounts.3. Averages are calculated by dividing total payments by total full time equivalents.4. Figures are rounded to the nearest £100.5. Real term figures are calculated using the HM Treasury GDP Deflator Index using 2006-07 as the base year. Source:Information Centre for health and social care NHS staff earnings survey. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:Intended average net income (IANI)( 1)  for general practitioners (GPs), 1979-80 and 1997-98, and estimated average net income (ANI), 2004-05, Great Britain 
			   IANI (Nominal) (£)  IANI (in 2004-05 prices) (£) 
			 1979-80 14,284 45,353 
			 1997-98 46,031 54,094 
		
	
	
		
			   Estimated ANI £  Estimated ANI in 2004-05 prices £ 
			 2004-05(2) 87,076 87,076 
			 (1) The concept of IANI (which related to all principal general medical service (GMS) GP's, full-time and part-time) disappeared for 2004-05 onwards, when new contractual arrangements came into place.(2) The 2004-05 average net income figure for GMS/primary medical service GPs was estimated by the joint DH/BMA/NHS Employers Technical Steering Committee (TSC). It is not directly comparable with the earlier IANI series. Source:The Information Centre for heath and social care. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Estimated average general dental service (CDS) net income for dentists with a reasonable CDS commitment( 1) , 1997-98 to 2004-05, England and Wales 
			   Estimated average net income (Nominal) (£)  Estimated average net income (in 2004-05 prices) (£) 
			 1997-98 51,200 60,168 
			 2004-05 70,000 70,000 
			 (1) Dentists with a reasonable commitment to the GDS are defined as dentists with CDS earnings equivalent to at least £40,000 in 1993-94 in fees for treatments and patient capitation. This equivalent is calculated each year by adjusting figures to take into account the effect of fee increases. The equivalent figure for 2004-05 is £59,100. Notes:1. Commitment payments started in 2001.2. Figures since 2000-01 use a different methodology to calculate the contribution from other non-fee/capitation payments.3. Figures prior to 1997-98 are not available on a comparable basis.4. The income figures cover both estimated fees for treatments and patient capitation as well as other estimated payments such as seniority payments and commitment payments and payments for maternity and sickness. They exclude dentists' income from private sources. Source:The Information Centre for health and social care

Osteoporosis

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by her Department following the announcement in April 2005 of funding for DXA bone density scanners; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department allocated £3 million revenue (£214,000 each), on a non-recurrent basis in 2005-06, to 14 strategic health authorities (SHAs) for the purchase of dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanners on the basis of their lack of scanning capacity, according to evidence provided to us by the Office for National Statistics. Capital provision of£17 million has been made available in 2006-07 and 2007-08 to improve national health service capacity through investment in new Dexa scanning equipment. Responsibility of delivery for spend rests with SHAs.

Our Health, Our Say

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State forHealth what task groups have been established to take forward the "Our Health, Our Say" White Paper implementation plan; and who has been appointed to each such group.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 June 2006
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Sexual Health

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the ability of genito-urinary medicine clinics to cope with the possible additional demand for their services arising from the sexual health education campaign; and what representations she has received on this;
	(2)  what date she originally expected her Department to launch its latest sexual health education campaign; and when it will be launched.

Caroline Flint: In developing the campaign, the Department is consulting with stakeholders, and the possible impact of the campaign on the demand for sexual health services is being carefully considered.
	The campaign planning process takes account of the fact that many areas will need time to make use of the major new investment, provided through the 'Choosing Health' White Paper, to improve capacity.
	The campaign will particularly target 16. to 24-year-olds, the group at highest risk, and links closely to the joint Department and Department for Education and Skills media campaign that supports the teenage pregnancy strategy. It will initially focus on strong prevention messages to minimise the immediate pressure on services until such time as the number of new infections begins to stabilise or decline. Only then will the campaign start to signpost people to screening and treatment. And this will happen gradually through local mechanisms to help ensure clinics will be able to meet demand, as progress is made in modernising sexual health services through the chlamydia screening programme, improved access to genito-urinary medicine and reproductive health services.
	The Department has not set a firm date for the campaign launch but current plans are being developed for later this year. We are committed to the most effective action possible and ensuring that we work closely with stakeholders. The overall aim of the campaign will be to drive greater personal responsibility for sexual health.

Biodiesel

Mark Hunter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken through the taxation system to encourage the production and availability to the motorist of biodiesel.

John Healey: The Government are committed to supporting biofuels as part of a long-term strategy to promote low carbon transport. The Budget announced the extension of the 20 pence per litre duty differential for biofuels until 2008-09, and set out a range of announcements about the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, which will begin in 2008-09 and will ensure biofuels comprise 5 per cent. of the road fuels market by 2010-11. Furthermore, we are awaiting state aid clearance to introduce an enhanced capital allowance (EGA) for the cleanest biofuels production plant, to support innovation and help develop the lowest-carbon biofuels production methods.

EU Nationals

Ian Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many nationals from the EU accession states have applied for  (a) child benefit and  (b) tax credits since May 2004; and how many such applications have been (i) approved, (ii) rejected and (iii) terminated in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: These figures are included in the joint Accession Monitoring Report produced by the Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs and Department for Communities and Local Government on 23 May 2006 and published on the Home Office Immigrationand Nationality Directorate's website (http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/accession_monitoring_report)

Families (Father Involvement)

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to include consideration of ways to encourage fathers' involvement within the family in the cross-cutting review of support for children and young people being conducted as part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review.

Edward Balls: Budget 2006 launched a policy review of children and young people to inform the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. Copies of the review's terms of reference have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	In "support for parents: the best start for children", published at the pre-Budget report, HM Treasury and the Department for Education and Skills recognised the contributions that mothers and fathers make and their potentially different needs for support as parents. As part of wider examination of the role of and support for parents in improving outcomes for children and young people, the review will consider the contribution of fathers and other male carers.

Pensions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to pages 58 and 59 of the White Paper Security in Retirement; Towards a New Pensions System, what the evidential basis is for the statement that  (a) 75 is the appropriate upper age limit for annuities and  (b) annuities offer good value for money.

Edward Balls: Latest Government Actuary Department (GAD) analysis shows that the guaranteed rates of return available on annuities by around age 75 become so large relative to other investments that increasingly unrealistic investment returns need to be achieved in order to match or do better than the income that could be achieved through an annuity. Any investment vehicle with an expected yield greater than an annuity after 75 would inevitably be both expensive and carry a significant degree of risk, which people in the later stages of life may be ill-equipped to bear. Of course the optimal age for individuals to annuitise before 75 will depend on a range of individual circumstances.
	A comprehensive academic survey on annuity pricing was published in March 2006. The authors conclude that after looking at the most recent analysis,
	"The mark-up paid to life insurers—measured by the so-called money's worth ratio—is relatively small and fairly constant, thus suggesting that annuities are fairly priced".
	These findings are in line with previous annuity pricing studies covering different countries and time periods. The full paper can be found at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2005-2006/rrep318.pdf, DWP research paper 318 'Annuities—A Pricing Survey', Edmund Cannon and Ian Tonks.
	The Government are committed to publishing a technical paper setting out the evidence base for policy in this area later this year.

M56

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the problems with the bridge on the slip road between the M56 and the A556 near Altrincham in Cheshire were first identified; how long the exploratory work has taken; and what estimate he has made of the likely date for the full reopening of the slip road.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency first became aware of deficiencies in the bridge carrying the westbound exit slip-road at Junction 7 of the M56 motorway, following an assessment in 2001. This resulted in the installation of temporary supports and loading restrictions. Since 2001, the Agency has undertaken further detailed investigatory works to confirm the problem and determine the remedial solution required.
	The latest phase in the investigatory work, undertaken between late February and mid June 2006, was to confirm the true extent of the defects and to refine the methods of working, in advance of the planned main refurbishment scheme. During these additional investigations, unexpected structural defects in the bridge were identified. As a result, traffic using the slip-road will continue to be restricted to a single lane, with a 40mph speed limit, for safety reasons. Short-term measures, and options for a permanent solution, are under consideration, and the timing of the resulting works will be subject to the scale of the work required and the availability of funding.

Railways

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department first learned of First train operator's plans to stop recognising cheap day returns between 4.30 pm and 7.00 pm on Mondays to Fridays; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 4 July 2006
	First Group's bid for the Thamselink/Great Northern franchise included a proposal to restrict the use of day return fares during the evening peak on certain routes. They did not give the Department any advance notification of the date they intended to implement the proposal. However, day returns are unregulated fares and it is for operators to decide whether to offer them and, if so at what price and with what restrictions.

Transport Direct

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Transport how many people have used www.transportdirect.info in each of the last 12 months.

Stephen Ladyman: Statistics for both the number of people who have used Transport Direct and the number of pages that they have accessed are as follows:
	
		
			  Month  User sessions  Pages accessed 
			 July 2005 234,101 1,938,772 
			 August 2005 329,047 2,403,413 
			 September 2005 345,802 2,440,177 
			 October 2005 344,968 2,572,766 
			 November 2005 378,911 3,165,276 
			 December 2005 373,853 3,448,952 
			 January 2006 406,927 3,872,218 
			 February 2006 427,997 4,202,907 
			 March 2006 425,772 4,427,304 
			 April 2006 436,718 4,085,244 
			 May 2006 475,161 4,435,045 
			 June 2006 602,648 4,689,903 
			 Grand total 4,781,905 41,681,977

Broadcast Rights Payments

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the lost revenue to UK companies and recording artists from the lack of payments for broadcast rights in the USA; and what estimate has been supplied to her Department by the music industry.

Shaun Woodward: This Department has not made such an estimate. However, the recording industry has estimated that a change in US law in respect of broadcasting rights would enable it to earn additional revenue of approximately £281 million. Furthermore, in 2001 the European Commission estimated that the US Fairness in Music Licensing Act 1998, had cost composers, songwriters and music publishers some$25 million a year in lost royalties.

Aquaculture

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what compensation is available to aquaculture industries in cases where compulsory slaughter is ordered due to an outbreak of a list 2 disease; and what recent discussions he has had with the aquaculture industry on this issue.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 5 July 2006
	It has been the policy of successive Governments, not to pay compensation has not been available for the compulsory slaughter of fish due to an outbreak of serious fish diseases; this remains my Department's policy.
	Following the recent outbreak of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia on a trout farm in the River Ouse catchment area, I have held meetings with farmers in the area and their representative organisations to hear their concerns and consider options for alleviating current difficulties.

Brixham Fish Market

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 386-87W, on Brixham fish market, why a final decision on the funding of Brixham fish market will only be made when an assessment of the potential impact of a possible restriction of scallop dredging in Lyme Bay is completed.

Ben Bradshaw: To take into account all the factors that could affect the economic viability of Brixham fish market, when taking a decision on whether to granta significant sum of public funding for its redevelopment. These factors include a possible restriction in scallop dredging. Bearing in mind that scallops form a significant part of the value of landings into Brixham, my officials sought further information on the potential effect of a loss of revenue from this source and an assurance from the applicant that this had been considered.
	I am pleased to say that following consideration of this further information and receipt of an assurance from Torbay council, officials have approved the application for grant funding of the market, and the council has been informed of this decision.

Departmental Catering

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of food served in his Department's catering establishments was of British origin in 2005; and what instructions he has issued to the provider of food services regarding the sourcing of food.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 16 June 2006
	From information held centrally, the proportion of food served in the Department's catering establishments that is of British origin is 100 per cent. for eggs and milk products; 90 per cent. for cheeses; 80 per cent. to100 per cent. for root vegetables; 50 per cent. to 80 per cent. for salad vegetables; 25 per cent. to 40 per cent. for fruit; 85 per cent. for fish; 100 per cent. for bakery products; 80 per cent. for chicken; 70 per cent. for beef; 15 per cent. for lamb; 25 per cent. for bacon and 90 per cent. for pork.
	DEFRA's catering services providers are required to use food produce which is fresh and seasonal including organic produce. They are also required to develop the use of small and medium sized enterprises in their food supply chains. The catering services providers are required to have full regard to the objectives of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI). The service performance of the catering services providers is the subject of continuous assessment and review.

Departmental Websites

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many websites there are within his responsibilities; and what the total cost of maintaining such websites was in the last year for which figures are available.

Barry Gardiner: DEFRA directly operates a number of websites, including the main DEFRA website (www.defra.gov.uk) and the Government's sustainable development website (www.sustainable-development.gov.uk).
	Direct operating costs—the staff costs for the central team with lead responsibility for updating and maintaining websites and for website policy—are estimated to be around £352,000 for the last financial year. Additional costs arise from the activities of a large number of staff in business units across the Department, contributing to the content of websites as part of their communications activities, but an overall cost for this could not be readily estimated. Website hosting services—as well as a range of IT applications—are provided as part of DEFRA's overall IT service provision and the costs could not be readily disaggregated.
	A number of other websites are operated by or on behalf of the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies, for which costs are either covered by the budgets for specific programmes (and not separately identified), or included within the above figures. Detailed information is not currently held centrally for such websites, and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

National Water Grid

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to consult the water industry on national water plans.

Ian Pearson: A meeting with representatives from across the water industry was held on 1 June, to discuss the provision of water resources over the short, medium and long term.
	All water companies have water resources plans, which reconcile supply and anticipated demand over a 25-year horizon, in their own areas of supply.
	The production and maintenance of water resources management plans will become a statutory requirement under the Water Act 2003. A consultation on the proposed water resources management plans regulations washeld between 31 January 2006 and 25 April 2006. The consultees included water companies. The new regime will commence in April 2007.

Single Farm Payments

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the occasions on which he indicated  (a) in public and  (b) to the House that payments under the single payments scheme would be met before the legal deadline.

Barry Gardiner: My right hon. friend the Secretary of State and his predecessor have consistently reported the Rural Payments Agency's targets and forecasts in respect of the timing of payments under the 2005 single payment scheme. Those targets and forecasts have tended to focus on when payments would start and when certain proportions would be completed rather than the position at the end of the regulatory payment window of 30 June. My right hon. friend the Secretary of State's latest report on 22 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1478 indicated that, as of 20 June, some£1.38 billion, representing more than 90 per cent. of the total fund, has now been paid to more than 100,000 applicants. The outstanding payments will be made as soon as possible.

Wheels to Work

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will provide future funding for Wheels to Work schemes in Northamptonshire.

Barry Gardiner: Responsibility for delivering the Countryside Agency's rural economic and social regeneration policies, including transport, now lies with the regional development agencies (RDAs) who will determine where and on what it is appropriate to spend funds.
	East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA)has funded two Wheels to Work schemes in Northamptonshire using the funds that were transferred to EMDA from the Countryside Agency. £248,990 of EMDA funding has been allocated over three years (2005-08).
	As well as support from the RDAs, 'Wheels to Work or Learning' schemes receive funding from local Jobcentre Plus and Connexions offices, Learning and Skills Councils and from local transport authorities. The major source of transport funding in rural areas is local authorities.

Departmental Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI is committed to the targets for energy efficiency and reduction in carbon emissions as set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development in Government. During the period 1990-2000 to 2004-05 the DTI HQ and its Agencies have achieved a reduction in carbon emissions from5.2 to 4.4 (000 tC).
	Over the past two years the Department has reduced the size of its London HQ estate by over 30 per cent. with a corresponding reduction in all the associated environmental impacts. This has been achieved by making more efficient use of its existing accommodation and the adoption of flexible desking on the basis of eight workstations for every 10 staff. Other carbon reduction initiatives include the purchase of nearly a third of its electricity from renewable sources between 1999-2000 and 2004-05.

Multinational Enterprises

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many meetings have been convened between complainants and companies by the UK National Contact Point under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises since the Guidelines were implemented by the Government;
	(2)  what the criteria are by which the UK National Contact Point for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises decides to include specific instance cases in the official OECD table of specific instances;
	(3)  what the criteria are by which the UK National Contact Point for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises decides to share relevant information with the complainant during the course of the specific instance procedure;
	(4)  to what extent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines on Multinational Enterprise cover the behaviour of UK companies in dealing with their suppliers; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  when he will implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1457;
	(6)  if he will assess the extent to which his Department has implemented the recommendations made in the report of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes Region on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  in what ways the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises govern the operations of multinational companies in states where the national government is considered by the UK Government to be perpetrating humans rights abuses.
	(8)  how many complaints the national contact point for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises has received under the specific instance mechanism relating to activities of UK companies in  (a) Zimbabwe and  (b) Nigeria in each of the last five years; and how many have been resolved;
	(9)  what the average time taken to conclude the specific instance procedure for complaints under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises by the nation contact point located within his Department has been in each year since they were introduced;
	(10)  how he will ensure that complainants based in non-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are able to use the specific instance procedure under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises in relation to UK companies.

Ian McCartney: Governments adhering to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises encourage enterprises operating in or from their territories to observe the Guidelines wherever they operate. Chapter II—General Policies states that enterprises should
	"respect the human rights of those affected by their activities consistent with the host government's international obligations and commitments."
	Chapter II—General Policies also states that enterprises should
	"encourage, where practicable, business partners, including suppliers and subcontractors, to apply principles of corporate conduct compatible with the Guidelines."
	As asserted m the September 2005 stakeholder consultation document on the UK national contact point's (NCP) promotion and implementation of the Guidelines, the NCP will follow its procedures where relevant and practicable if issues arise in non-adhering countries. Where information is not otherwise available, it may be able to obtain this through UK overseas posts. Where parties are unable to make their representations in the UK, it may undertake field visits, for which terms of reference will be established in advance.
	The NCP has received no complaints relating to implementation of the Guidelines in specific instances by UK companies in Zimbabwe or Nigeria.
	The NCP reports details of all complaints that it has decided justify consideration as a specific instance for inclusion in the OECD's annual report on the Guidelines.
	Details of the number of meetings convened by the NCP between parties to a specific instance are not held centrally.
	The procedural guidance that accompanies the Guidelines specifically provides that
	"information and views provided during the proceedings by another party involved will remain confidential, unless that other party agrees to their disclosure."
	Accordingly, as asserted in the stakeholder consultation document, in the interests of transparency, the NCP will make available all documentation received from a party to other parties except in accordance with the exemptions provided for under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
	Details of the time taken to conclude specific instances by the NCP since it was set up following the decision of the OECD Council in June 2000 are as follows:
	
		
			  Company  Complainant  Filed  Concluded 
			 National Grid Transco Citizens for a Better Environment July 2003 July 2005 
			 De Beers n/a October 2003 May 2004 
			 Avient n/a October 2003 September 2004 
			 Oryx Natural Resources Rights and Accountability in Development October 2003 June 2005 
		
	
	Other specific instances have been dropped by the complainant or are ongoing.
	The handling of UK companies listed in the final report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of DR Congo referred to in Security Council Resolution 1457as unresolved cases and referred to the NCP for investigation and updating was set out in the July 2005 Government response to a February 2005 report of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes Region (APPG) report.
	I have arranged for copies of the Government response to the APPG report and the stakeholder consultation document on the NCP's promotion and implementation of the Guidelines to be placed in the Libraries of the House. The Government will shortly publish its response to the stakeholder consultation.

Hydro-Electricity

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will establish an appeal mechanism for when the Environment Agency decides not carry out an environmental assessment of a planning application for a hydro-electric generating plant; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The decision on whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required for a proposed project rests with the appropriate competent authority. In the case of projects which fall within the planning system, the competent authorityis normally the local planning authority. The Environment Agency's role for EIA purposes is as a statutory consultation body. There is a statutory appeal mechanism for an applicant for planning permission who disagrees with a planning authority's decision to require EIA. Action against an authority's decision not to require EIA, however, could only be pursued by means of an application for judicial review.

Special Envoy

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the countries visited by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean since her appointment as his special envoy; and what the  (a) date and  (b) purpose was of each visit.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1614-15W. Baroness Symons has also visited Algeria twice in her capacity as Special Representative for Memoranda of Understanding towards the endof 2005.
	Baroness Symons has now ceased her role as Special Representative for Memoranda of Understanding, and as Representative for the Two Kingdoms Dialogue.

Bail Hostels

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 271W, on bail hostels, how many sex offenders were resident atthe bail hostel in Wesleyan Road, Peterborough on31 May 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 4 July 2006
	The number of sex offenders accommodated in any approved premises, (formerly bail and probation hostels) will vary at any one time. Statistical information about the type of offences committed by offenders residing at an approved premise at any one time is not collected centrally.

Criminal Records Bureau

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Criminal Records Bureau disclosure applications were received in each of the last 12 months; how many were issued; and what the average length of time taken to issue a disclosure was in each month.

Joan Ryan: The total number of disclosure applications received and disclosures issued by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in the last 12 months is contained in table 1.
	Information on the average length of time taken to process the checks during these periods is not available in the format requested. The CRB operates to a set of a Published Service Standards (PSS) which for the majority of the period was to publish 93 per cent. of Standard Disclosures within two weeks and 90 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within four weeks. The monthly performance measured against the PSS is as shown in tables 2 and 3.
	The four week target for Enhanced Disclosures is made up of two distinct parts. The CRB is required to process 90 per cent. of valid Enhanced Disclosure applications to the police within 10 days, with the police forces required to process 95 per cent. of the checks within a further 14 days. The CRB consistently exceeded their target in 2005-06 and, for May 2006, processed 97.4 per cent. of applications to the police within 10 days. The CRB and the police forces are working together to reduce police completion times in line with the overall service standard objectives.
	The CRB recently published its Five-Year Strategy and Business Plan 2006-07 and the PSS for the financial year 2006-07 for Standard Disclosures is90 per cent. within 10 days and for Enhanced Disclosures 90 per cent. within 28 days. The shortening of the Standard Disclosure PSS is the result of the effectiveness of the CRB's internal processes.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Month  Total net receipts  Total disclosures issued 
			  2005   
			 June 236,602 230,251 
			 July 241,901 215,378 
			 August 238,045 220,375 
			 September 242,993 215,695 
			 October 262,796 252,608 
			 November 245,555 272,507 
			 December 198,791 231,659 
			
			  2006   
			 January 209,361 217,764 
			 February 247,591 234,556 
			 March 294,303 277,610 
			 April 207,265 217,764 
			 May 280,171 242,911 
			 Total 2,905,374 2,829,078 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  Standard disclosures  Total  Volume within PSS  PSS target (percentage)  PSS achieved (percentage) 
			  2005 
			 June 27,205 26,851 (1)93.0 98.7 
			 July 25,833 25,601 (1)93.0 99.1 
			 August 23,966 23,942 (1)93.0 99.9 
			 September 25,117 25,092 (1)93.0 99.9 
			 October 27,388 27,306 (1)93.0 99.7 
			 November 26,249 26,092 (1)93.0 99.4 
			 December 23,066 23,043 (1)93.0 99.9 
			  
			  2006 
			 January 23,055 22,963 (1)93.0 99.6 
			 February 28,511 28,454 (1)93.0 99.8 
			 March 36,436 36,363 (1)93.0 99.8 
			 April 24,719 24,645 (2)90.0 98.7 
			 May 34,401 34,310 (2)90.0 97.4 
			  
			 June 2005 to May 2006 325,946 324,661 93.0/90.0 99.3 
			 (1) Percentage in 14 days. (2) Percentage in 10 days. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3 
			  Enhanced disclosures  Total  Volume within PSS  PSS target (percentage in 28 days)  PSS achieved (percentage) 
			  2005 
			 June 203,046 166,092 90.0 81.8 
			 July 189,545 160,734 90.0 84.8 
			 August 196,409 159,877 90.0 81.4 
			 September 190,578 154,559 90.0 81.1 
			 October 225,220 172,969 90.0 76.8 
			 November 246,258 209,566 90.0 85.1 
			 December 208,593 177,095 90.0 84.9 
			  
			  2006 
			 January 194,709 166,476 90.0 85.5 
			 February 206,045 174,314 90.0 84.6 
			 March 241,174 209,821 90.0 87.0 
			 April 193,045 171,038 90.0 88.6 
			 May 208,510 177,448 90.0 85.1 
			  
			 June 2005 to May 2006 2,503,132 2,099,989 90.0 83.9

IMPACT Programme

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  pursuant to the written statement of 19 April 2006,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on the IMPACT programme, how many police forces in England and Wales are using the IMPACT nominal index (INI); how many police officers on average have access to the INI within each child abuse investigation unit; when he expects the INI to be available to all police officers in every force; what further development of the INI is planned; and what assessment he has made of its likely impact on police forces;
	(2)  pursuant to the written statement of 19 April 2006,  Official Report, column 17-19, on the IMPACT programme, what estimated  (a) funds and  (b) manpower will be required by police forces in England and Wales to implement the IMPACT nominal index in other business areas outside child abuse investigation units;
	(3)  pursuant to the statement on the IMPACT programme issued by his Department on 19 April 2006, which business areas within police forces will receive the IMPACT nominal index (INI) during 2006 in addition to child abuse investigation units.

Tony McNulty: All 43 forces in England and Wales have been using the IMPACT nominal index (INI) since it was deployed in December 2005 to a child abuse investigation unit, with at least two trained users, in each force. The IMPACT programme will complete deployment to force child abuse investigation units by the end of July this year, on the basis of requirements identified by chief constables, which will mean that 850 staff (around a third of all staff in this business area) will be trained in the use of the INI.
	Although the IMPACT nominal index is currently intended to be used primarily for child protection, officers from other business areas may, with the authority of an officer of at least superintendent rank, have searches carried out where necessary for the prevention or detection of serious crime. It is our intention to deploy the INI to other business areas following full deployment to child abuse investigation units but we do not plan to train all officers in the use of the INI or to give all officers direct access to the system; searches can be carried out on their behalf. Which areas should receive the application, and in which order, will be determined in consultation with the police service, informed by the outcome of current trials involving the Thames Valley Force Intelligence Bureau; the Child Exploitation and On-line Protection Centre; the East Midlands Regional Special Operations Unit and the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command. At the conclusion of the trials in August, the IMPACT Programme Board will have a better understanding of the business benefits and resources required to respond to inter-force requests for information following a match on the INI. It is for forces to determine how to manage the resource requirements to implement the new operational capability we are delivering. The INI is being developed to incorporate certain local audit and administration functions. We are currently assessing the impact of INI on forces in terms of the operational benefits delivered by the system and the demands associated with responding to inter-force enquiries. On-site surveys and case reviews are being conducted to identify the type and number of cases where INI- identified data has made a significant contribution to their work. We are also working with forces to identify best practice and potential new applications of the system.

IRA Manchester Bombings

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make arrangements for payments to be made to the victims of the 15 June 1996 IRA Manchester bombings on terms similar to the payments being made to victims of the 7 July London bombings and their families.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The victims of the Manchester bombing and the 7/7 bombings were/are eligible for criminal injuries compensation under the terms of the statutory criminal injuries compensation scheme approved by Parliament which applied at the date their application was/is received. The payments made to both sets of victims, and indeed to all victims of violent crime in Great Britain, are assessed and paid on the basis of the scheme applying when their application is received. No special arrangements or payments under the current scheme are being made for 7/7 victims.
	However, in the immediate aftermath of the 7/7 bombings, the Mayor of London set up the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund in partnership with the British Red Cross. The Government donated£1 million to the fund in July 2005. The Government announced on 8 June 2006 that, in recognition of the exceptional circumstances of the London bombings, it was donating a further £2.5 million to the fund,  Official Report, column 38WS. The trustees of the charity will decide how the extra money will be distributed among victims of the 7/7 bombings in the form of charitable grants.

Knife Amnesty

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knives have been handed in during the amnesty in  (a) Ribble Valley and  (b) Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Figures for the number of items handed in during the knife amnesty are being collected at police force level and will be released shortly. 17,715 items were handed in in England and Wales during the first week of the amnesty.
	We worked closely with ACPO to develop the arrangements for the amnesty, which was part of our wider strategy to tackle knife crime. We are also focusing on legislation, enforcement, education and prevention. We have brought forward provisions in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill that will raise the age at which someone can be sold a knife to 18; are introducing a new offence of using someone to mind a weapon; and giving head teachers powers to search pupils for knives. The Home Secretary announced on 19 June 2006 that he was giving very serious consideration to the suggestion that the maximum sentence for having a knife or blade in a publicplace should be increased from the current sentence of 2 years.
	Many police forces are undertaking tough enforcement operations, for example, the Metropolitan police's Operation Blunt and the British Transport police's Operation Shield, which uses search equipment to detect those carrying knives and other weapons on our transport network. We are also supporting educational initiatives that demonstrate to young people the dangers of carrying knives, and reinforce the message that carrying a knife can result in it being turned on you.
	Through our small grants programme, the Connected Fund, we are also supporting a wide range of local community projects which work with young people to provide mentoring, training, education and other support.

Oxycodone

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that production of oxycodone formulations does not move from the UK to elsewhere in the European Union as a result of Home Office interpretation of United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961.

Vernon Coaker: Production of controlled drugs, such as oxycodone, is governed by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 and implemented by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Licensed production under the Act limits domestic trade to medical and scientific purposes. The policy on licensing takes no account of commercial considerations nor does the Act confer any power to compel a manufacturer to remain within the United Kingdom.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officer applications from  (a) women and  (b) black and minority ethnic candidates there were in each of the last five years in the UK.

Tony McNulty: The available information for police officer applications in England and Wales is set out as follows. It is based on responses from forces as these are not data that are collected centrally. Responsibility for recruitment of officers in Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	Recruitment fluctuates according to natural wastage as well as specific funding available. The crime fighting fund has driven significant recruitment over recent years, including record levels in 2002-03 when joiners totalled 13,100. Since then, recruitment has slowed down and this is reflected in numbers of female and minority ethnic applicants as shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of applications to be a police officer (2001 to 2005) 
			  Number 
			   Female applicants  Minority ethnic applicants 
			 2000-01(1) 15,446 3,556 
			 2001-02(2) 14,891 4,604 
			 2002-03(3) 22,838 4,712 
			 2003-04(4) 14,060 3,419 
			 2004-05(5) 10,974 3,060 
			 (1) Total is based on 41 forces providing data. (2) Total is based on 42 forces providing data. (3) Total is based on 40 forces providing data. (4) Total is based on 38 forces providing data. (5) Total is based on 39 forces providing data.

Police

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police retirements were ill health retirements in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Of the officers who retired with either an ordinary pension or an ill-health pension in 2004-05 10.5 per cent. retired with an ill-health pension, based on available data from 42 out of 43 forces. Since the number of retirements is liable to change from year to year, the rate of ill-health retirement is now measured against the number of officers in service, this being a more stable measure. For 2004-05 the rate of ill-health retirement was three per 1,000 serving officers. These figures are published in HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary's annual report for 2004-05 (page25) which can be found at: http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/hc0506/hc08/0842/0842.pdf. This represents a significant improvement in performance, the rate having been 14 per 1000 in 1997-98.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the transfer of inmates from  (a) a category A prison to a category B prison,  (b) a category B prison to a category C prison and  (c) a category C prison to a category D prison; what changes there have been in that policy since1 May 1997; on what dates the policy was changed; and how the policy change was made public.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The purpose of the recategorisation of prisoners is to determine whether, and to what extent, the risks a prisoner presented at their last review have changed and to ensure that the prisoner continues to be held in the most appropriately secure conditions. There have been no significant policy changes since 1997.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring, beyond seeking information from Israel, is being undertaken by the UK Government to ascertain whether military equipment supplied directly to Israel, or components which are supplied to a third country but which have been re-exported or diverted to Israel, are being used in the military incursions by Israelinto Gaza and the West Bank which commenced on27 June; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 5 July (UIN 82166). Our embassy in Tel Aviv monitors local developments taking account of information from all relevant sources which might indicate that military equipment from the UK or other suppliers has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. All relevant information obtained would be taken into consideration as appropriate in the thorough assessment of any future export licensing decisions.

Kashmir

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking to help resolve the dispute over Kashmir.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 5 July 2006
	My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Kim Howells, discussed Kashmir with the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, during his visit to the UK in March 2006. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Kashmir with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to India in September 2005. My right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) discussed Kashmir with Indian and Pakistani counterparts during his visit to both countries in February 2005. Officials in both countries also regularly discuss the situation in Kashmir with Indian and Pakistani Ministers and officials.
	The Government fully supports the ongoing Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan, which includes the issue of Kashmir. We will continue to urge both countries to seek a lasting solution to their dispute over Kashmir, which takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Development, Innovation and Support Contracts Project

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made on the Development, Innovation and Support Contracts project; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The DISC Programme is due to announce award of contracts in the fourth quarter of 2006 and is on target to achieve this.

DNA Bioscience

David Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of22 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 2082-86W, on DNA Bioscience, whether DNA Bioscience made an application to be added to the accredited list.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. Member for Yeovil to the answer given to him on 22 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 2082-86W. As indicated in the paragraphs headed "DNA Diagnostics Center and DNA Bioscience", DNA Bioscience was not itself accredited by the Department for Constitutional Affairs to carry out court directed tests under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969. DNA Bioscience was not eligible to be accredited by DCA as it was not a testing facility, so had no ISO 17025 accreditation. Following an application from DNA Bioscience, DCA agreed that DNA Diagnostics Center (the laboratory DNA Bioscience used to conduct DNA tests) could be added to the accredited list. The Department then agreed orally in December 2004, that DNA Bioscience's details could be added to the accredited list, but this was not as a result of an application for accreditation. The intention was to add those details as a referral route to the accredited body (DNA Diagnostics Center).

Judicial Review

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs on what occasions an  (a) individual and  (b) organisation has applied for a judicial review of decisions of her Department in each year since 1997; and what the outcome was of each case where proceedings have been completed.

Vera Baird: The information requested is notheld centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Official Residences

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the official residences for which her Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure was on those properties in 2004-05; how much was spent in each property on  (a) flowers and plants,  (b) wine and entertaining,  (c) food,  (d) telephone bills and  (e) electricity and gas in 2004-05; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment was in 2004-05.

Vera Baird: My Department is not responsible for any official residences.
	The Palace of Westminster is responsible for the maintenance of the Lord Chancellor's residence in the House of Lords and for any work that needs to be carried out. There are no permanent staff employed at the residence. The Lord Chancellor's Private Office is responsible for the administration of the residence in terms of organising tours of the residence and keeping the diary of charitable functions. The Department do not make any contributions to the running cost of the Lord Chancellor's residence in the House of Lords.
	The cost of  (b) wine and entertaining and  (c) food for the years 2004 and 2005 are as follows:
	
		
			   Amount (£) 
			  (b) Wine and entertaining  
			 2005 883.88 
			 2004 2,914.12 
			   
			  (c) Food  
			 2005 15,534.40 
			 2004 29,440.78 
		
	
	My Department is not responsible for  (a) flowers and plants,  (d) telephone bills or  (e) gas and electricity bills nor are we responsible for (i) domestic or (ii) maintenance staff.
	With respect to the contribution made by occupants: Ministers occupying official residences do not pay tax on the living accommodation itself. However tax is paid on the ancillary services (lighting, heating etc.) at a sum limited to his/her taxable ministerial salary and benefit (if any).

Economically Inactive

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of the2 million economically inactive people who would like to work are receiving benefits, broken down by benefit.

James Plaskitt: In January-March 2006 there were 7,943,000 inactive people of working age in the United Kingdom. Of these 2,019,000 (25 per cent.) wanted to work.(1)
	Latest LFS data suggests that of the 2 million inactive people who want to work: around one quarter are claiming housing and or council tax benefit; around 15 per cent. are claiming sickness or disability benefits (excluding disabled persons tax credit); around 17 per cent. are claiming child benefit; less than two per cent were claiming jobseeker's allowance; and around one third are not claiming benefits.(2)
	Comparison between the data collected by the LFS and administrative data shows that the LFS consistently undercounts benefit claimants. However, the LFS data give an indication of the benefits received. It is important to note because of these caveats and the small sample sizes of the data used, the figures above are subject to a great degree of uncertainty.
	 Sources:
	(1) Labour Force Survey (LFS), January-March 2006.
	(2) Labour Force Survey Winter 2005.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of women in the UK who will retire between1 May 2005 and 31 April 2010 with  (a) 30 years or more of class 1 national insurance contributions and  (b) more than 30 but less than 39 years of national insurance contributions.

James Purnell: The information is not available in the format requested.

Personal Capability Assessment

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which organisations his Department has had meetings with on the proposed reform of the Personal Capability Assessment referred to in the Green Paper "A new deal for welfare";
	(2)  which individuals form the expert panels set up by the Department since the publication of the Green Paper "A new deal for welfare" to formulate policy on reforming the Personal Capability Assessment; and which bodies they represent.

Jim Murphy: As part of the Welfare Reform Green Paper consultation we have met a large number of stakeholders to discuss the full range of our reform proposals. With many of these we discussed our proposals to transform the PCA. Because of the number of organisations involved we are not able to list all the individuals and groups involved. We continue to meet with organisation to discuss the proposals.
	In addition, the Department has created a series of working groups, comprising medical, technical and stakeholder experts, to advise and assist in the work to transform the Personal Capability Assessment (PCA). The membership of each of the groups is in the tables
	
		
			  Overarching PCA Consultative Group 
			  Name  Organisation 
			 Duleep Allirajah Macmillan Cancer Support 
			 Dr. Mark Baker RNID 
			 Andy Barrick RNIB 
			 Brigid Campbell Independent/Social Security Advisory Committee 
			 David Congdon MENCAP 
			 Stephen Duckworth Disability Matters 
			 Richard Excell TUC 
			 Katie Hanson SENSE 
			 Jane Harris Rethink 
			 Marilyn Howard DRC 
			 Christine Jess Disability Employment Advisory Committee 
			 John Knight Leonard Cheshire 
			 Glynn McDonald Arthritis Care 
			 Andy Rickell Scope 
			 Sue Christoforou MIND 
			 Vanessa Stanislas Disability Alliance 
			 John Wheatley Citizens Advice Bureau 
		
	
	
		
			  Mental Health Consultative Group 
			  Name  Organisation 
			 David Congdon MENCAP 
			 Sue Christoforou MIND 
			 Margaret Edwards SANE 
			 Richard Excell TUC 
			 Jane Harris Rethink 
			 Caroline Hawkings Turning Point 
			 Kate Nash Radar 
			 Rachel Perkins Disability Employment Advisory Committee 
			 Mia Rosenblatt National Autistic Society 
			 Liz Sayce Disability Rights Commission 
			 Judy Scott Judy Scott Consultancy 
			 Debbie Witton Salford County Council 
		
	
	
		
			  Mental Health Technical Working Group( 1) 
			  Name  Organisation 
			 Dr. Jed Boardman Royal College of Psychiatrists 
			 Dr. Alan Cohen Royal College of GPs 
			 Dr. Bob Grove Department of Health 
			 Sue Godby Unum Provident/College of Occupational Therapists 
			 Dr. Paul Litchfield Faculty of Occupational Medicine 
			 Miles Rinaldi National Institute for Mental Health in England 
			 Philippa Russell National Children's Bureau 
			 Prof. Geoff Shepherd Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Trust 
		
	
	
		
			  Physical Descriptors Technical Working Group( 1) 
			  Name  Organisation 
			 Dr. Anthony Clarke Royal National Hospital for Rheumatological Diseases 
			 Peter Dewis Unum Provident 
			 Dr. David Henderson-Slater Oxford Centre for Enablement 
			 Anne Johnson Royal National Hospital for Rheumatological Diseases 
			 Anne Spaight Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board 
		
	
	
		
			  Review of evidence gathering from GPs( 1) 
			  Name  Organisation 
			 Dr. Robert Barnett General Practitioner 
			 Dr. John Chisholm Royal College of General Practitioners 
			 (1) Members of the Technical Groups were chosen for the experience they bring to the groups, not the organisations they are employed by or are members of. They do not necessary represent the views of these organisations on the groups.

9 mm Browning Pistol

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans there are to replace the 9 mm Browning pistol in the UK armed forces;
	(2)  who makes the 9 mm ammunition used with the Browning side arm in the UK armed forces; and what recent assessment has been made of the trend in the number of stoppages;
	(3)  in what years successive marks of the Browning 9 mm pistol came into service.

Adam Ingram: The Browning 9 mm pistol entered service in 1967 and no successive marks have been introduced. A replacement pistol is not planned until 2016. The ammunition is manufactured by Israeli Military Industries (IMI). The performance of all weapons systems are continuously assessed and there has been no trend identified regarding stoppages for the Browning 9 mm pistol.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is making contributions of  (a) funding,  (b) expertise and  (c) personnel towards the (i) UN and (ii) EU peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Adam Ingram: UK funding for the UN Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) is drawn from the Tri-departmental (FCO, MOD, DflD) peace-keeping budget. In 2005-06 this budget made assessed contributions of approximately £37 million to MONUC. The UK also currently provides six officers to MONUC, at a gross additional cost of £740,000 in 2005-06. These officers fill key strategic posts, notably that of the Chief of Staff in the Eastern Division HQ in Kisangani, and the Military Assistant to the Force Commander in the MONUC Force HQ in Kinshasa. In addition, we have provided training support during the stand-up of the Eastern Division HQ and advice, with other nations, through the short-term deployment of a technical assessment mission.
	Through the EU Funding Mechanism (ATHENA) the UK has paid, via the same Tri-departmental budget, £1.634 million for the common costs of the EU military mission to the Republique Democratique du Congo (EUFOR RD Congo). EUFOR RD Congo is deploying in support of MONUC and with the approval of the Congolese Transitional National Government. UK MOD is currently providing three personnel for EUFOR RD Congo: one officer for the Operational HQ in Germany; one officer for the Force HQ (FHQ) in Kinshasa, for the duration of the Operation; and one further officer from the European Air Group to the FHQ, to assist with planning and logistics for up to four weeks.

Military Flying Training

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the implementation of the Military Flying Training public finance initiative programme on departmental targets for  (a) improved quality of training,  (b) cost reduction and  (c) contraction of the defence estate.

Adam Ingram: The NAO Report, HG 880 Session 1999-2000 "Training New Pilots" dated 14 September 2000, recommended a more consistent approach to flying training. This report was instrumental in the initiation of the UK Military Flying Training System Project.
	Since the project is still in its competitive phase, it is not possible to predict the full extent of the benefits to be realised through the project at this point. It is anticipated that the primary benefits will come from modernising the flying training processes for all three services, realising efficiencies and, since training is currently spread across several organisations, taking advantage of potential economies of scale. It is assumed that existing estate will be utilised, although it is possible that there may be opportunities in the future for some estate rationalisation.

Search and Rescue Services

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 2052w, on search and rescue services, which  (a) existing and  (b) potential helicopter bases the Maritime Coastguard Agency and his Department have assessed as capable of providing an equivalent search and rescue coverage of the maritime western approaches to that provided by the 771 Squadron at RMAS Culdrose.

Adam Ingram: Any assessment of basing for the UK Search and Rescue Helicopter service must take account of the capability provided by the UK bases as a whole. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Ministry of Defence "Review of UK Search and Rescue (SAR) Helicopter Provision and Coverage Criteria Report—June 2001" contained a risk assessment of UK Search and Rescue, which included the maritime western approaches. The assessment demonstrated that current basing arrangements, which include RNAS Culdrose, meet the coverage criteria.
	Any new helicopter basing arrangement proposed will also be assessed, in terms of the whole UK capability, to ensure that it meets the defined coverage criteria.

Trident

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) officer and  (b) rating complement is of the Trident fleet (i) at full strength and (ii) currently.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy Trident Fleet consists of four Vanguard-class Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs).
	The full complement of a Vanguard-class submarine in a sea-going role is 160 men, consisting of 19 officers and 141 ratings. Of these, 140 go to sea.
	Six crews are provided to man the four boats; a total requirement of 114 officers and 846 ratings. The current trained strength is 110 officers and 840 ratings.
	Current policy is to ensure that any submarine is100 per cent. manned at sea, with priority given to the SSBN force.

Contingency Telecommunications Provision

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when she expects the project for a new Contingency Telecommunications Provision to be put in place; whether it is expected fully to meet contingency voice and data communications requirements; and how much has been allocated to the programme.

Edward Miliband: holding answer 3 July 2006
	The Cabinet Office last year replaced most of the aged Emergency Communications Network with satellite telephones for all responder organisations connected to the Network and a range of other bodies, thereby enhancing the quality, diversity and deployability of fallback voice communications in the event of failure of public fixed and mobile telephone networks. The current budget for this capability is some £500,000 per year.
	The Cabinet Office is also taking forward longer-term work to enhance the resilience of responders' communications, drawing on the lessons of recent incidents, especially the response to the bombings in London on 7 July 2005. This work is covering the wide range of communications systems available to responders for use in civil contingencies. Some£3.4 million per year is currently allocated for these purposes.

Departmental Estate

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much her Department has spent on the repair of water leaks within its estate in each of the last three financial years; if she will estimate likely expenditure for 2006-07; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Armstrong: The Cabinet Office operates a number of facilities management contracts across its estate. These cover both prescheduled maintenance and minor ad hoc repairs. The scheduling and reporting mechanisms for all such works means that it is not possible to separately identify the amount spent on water repairs from other costs.

Departmental Travel

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans she has to ensure that all flights undertaken by Ministers and officials in the Cabinet Office are carbon neutral; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: Through its commitment tothe Government Carbon Offsetting Scheme, as from1 April 2006 all flights undertaken by Cabinet Office Ministers and officials are being offset and thus carbon neutral. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases Certified Emissions Reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.

Departmental Correspondence

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) letters from members of the public,  (b) letters from hon. Members and  (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Members of the House of Lords the Departments under his authority dealt with in each of the last five years.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office received the following parliamentary questions in each of the last five calendar years. It is not possible to provide separate figures for hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002 1,729 
			 2003 2,908 
			 2004 4,137 
			 2005 4,476 
			 2006 (1)3,155 
			 (1) Up to 21 June 2006. 
		
	
	Information regarding correspondence is below.It is listed by Department as each private officerecords correspondence to their respective Minister individually. As a result of this, the information is recorded in different ways by different offices. Therefore some have been unable to break down the figures to the extent requested by the hon. Gentleman.
	
		
			   NIO( 1)  DHSSPS( 1)  OFMDFM( 2)  DRD 
			   Total  Total  MP  Public  MP( 3)  Public 
			 2002(4) (5)906 372 — — 26 113 
			 2003 2,842 1,244 — — 152 408 
			 2004 2,224 1,419 — — 127 592 
			 2005 2,356 1,750 ( 2)58 ( 2)466 121 456 
			 2006(6) 1,342 1,159 ( 2) ( 2) 54 162 
		
	
	
		
			   DE  DEL 
			   MP  Public  MP  Public 
			 2002(4) 22 51 21 105 
			 2003 80 127 39 45 
			 2004 138 287 43 56 
			 2005 153 461 47 58 
			 2006(6) 27 194 20 27 
		
	
	
		
			   DCAL  DSD  DETI 
			   MP  Public  MP  Public  MP  Public 
			 2002(4) 27 98 54 42 14 38 
			 2003 52 195 132 227 39 128 
			 2004 69 387 111 246 74 61 
			 2005 51 323 123 186 27 41 
			 2006(6) 27 162 76 81 19 20 
		
	
	
		
			   DoE  DARD 
			   MP( 3)  Public  MP  Public 
			 2002(4) 16 172 (7)25 (6)9 
			 2003 145 894 90 9 
			 2004 156 846 97 53 
			 2005 177 922 101 77 
			 2006(6) 115 341 31 37 
			 (1) NIO and DHSSPS correspondence data are not held in a way that makes it possible to separate out correspondence from MPs and from others. (2) OFMDFM correspondence data are only available from 18 May 2005 to date, and it is not possible to break them down by year. (3) Includes only MPs with Northern Ireland constituencies. (4) From 1 October 2002, unless otherwise indicated. (5) From 1 January 2002. (6 )Figure to June 2006. (7) From 15 October 2002.  Note:  Information is recorded in different ways by different Departments. The figures include some instances of double-counting, for example, where a letter is transferred between Departments or where input is required from more than one Department.

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his practice is regarding meeting, discussions with and taking into account the views and opinions of  (a) private individuals and  (b) representatives of organisations when drawing upand framing legislation to be introduced by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments seek a range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy-making process, both informal and formal. Each department holds regular meetings with its principal stakeholder groups and with relevant experts. Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the departments' formal consultations which abide by the code of conduct on consultation. Known stakeholders are alerted to the fact that a formal consultation is taking place. As required by the code, the relevant department then gives feedback on the responses received.

Select Committee Recommendations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action has been taken by his Department to implement Northern Ireland Select Committee recommendations since the 2001-02 Session; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: Information relating to the implementation of Northern Ireland Select Committee recommendations for each year since the 2001-02 Session is not held centrally. It cannot therefore be readily retrieved without incurring disproportionate costs. In its responses to Northern Ireland Select Committee reports the Government make it clear whether or not they accept the Committee's recommendations.

Sex Offenders

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons on the sex offenders register in Northern Ireland have reoffended while still on the register in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The Northern Ireland Sex Offender Strategic Management Committee in its annual report "Managing the Risk 05/06" published on 27 June 2006 reported that of the cases managed at category 2 (medium risk) or category 3 (high risk) one offender was charged or reported for a further serious sex offence during the previous 12-month period ending31 March 2006. The information for the previous four years and for category 1 (low risk) offenders is not collated centrally by the PSNI and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. At an operational level the police and other agencies involved in the multi-agency sex offender risk assessment and management (MASRAM) procedures are fully aware of the nature of each individual offenders offending behaviour including whether this involves further offences of a sexual nature.

Adult Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on recent changes in the  (a) funding and  (b) number of adult education courses, with particular reference to (i) basic skills courses, (ii) other vocational courses and (iii) non-vocational and community education.

Bill Rammell: Our strategic priorities for adult learning which I announced on 21 October 2005 are to; support adults who lack basic skills or the platform of skills for employability; ensure a wide range of opportunities at level 3; and, ensure the continued availability of a wide range of opportunities for personal and community development (PCDL). I reaffirmed our commitment to safeguard the funding for PCDL in mainstream further education and local authority funded adult education (adult and community learning) with a budget of £210 million in 2006/07.
	Overall we have increased further education funding nationally by around £2.5 billion—since 1997 equivalent to 48 per cent. in real terms. Our investment in adult learning will remain broadly stable at£2.9 billion but the nature of provision will change. Colleges will provide more publicly funded long courses to meet national skills demands including a new free entitlement to a first full level 3 qualification for young adults for which we are making available new funds of £25 million. Post-16 providers, including colleges will provide around 3.5 million adult places in 2007/08, a reduction of around 6 per cent. compared to now.

Agency Staff

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what average hourly rate was paid by his Department to each employment agency for staff employed through agencies in 2005-06.

Parmjit Dhanda: The average hourly rate paid by the Department for staff employed through Adecco in for the financial year 2005-06 was as follows:
	
		
			  Grade  Average hourly charge rate (£) 
			 AA 8.59 
			 AO 9.81 
			 EO 12.39 
			 HEO 17.24 
			 Messenger 7.97 
			 Pers sec 13.65 
			 Snr pers sec 14.53

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his practice is regarding meeting, discussing and taking into account the views and opinions of  (a) private individuals and  (b) representatives of organisations when drawing up and framing legislation to be introduced by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department always seeks a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy-making process; both informal and formal. The Department holds regular meetings with representatives of the principal stakeholder groups for our policy areas and with relevant experts. Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the Department's formal consultations which abide by the Code of Conduct on Consultation. Known stakeholders are alerted to the fact that a formal consultation is taking place. As required by the Code, the Department then gives feedback on the responses received and on how the consultation process influenced the policy decision.
	Four Government Bills have been introduced to Parliament by the Department in the current parliamentary session, the Children and Adoption Bill, the Childcare Bill, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill and the Education and Inspections Bill.
	The Children and Adoption Bill was published in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint committee of both Houses, and the Government published their response to the report of that committee before the Bill was introduced to Parliament. Prior to that, the policy proposals on which the Bill was based were subject to full consultation through the Green Paper "Parental Separation: Children's Needs and Parents' Responsibilities". Discussions were held with key stakeholders throughout the preparation of the Bill.
	Full consultation was carried out on the Childcare Bill, including discussions with stakeholders and a formal consultation from 15 July to 7 October 2005. The Department published a response to this consultation, "Report on Responses to Consultation on Legislative Proposals for the Future of Childcare and Early Years Provision in England", in late October 2005, copies of which can be found in the House of Commons Library. Regular meetings were held throughout the framing and drafting of the Bill with key stakeholders including provider organisations, children's charities and local authority representatives.
	The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (SVG) Bill was subject to extensive consultation prior to introduction. A range of consultations have informed the development of the centralised vetting and barring scheme for which the SVG Bill will provide the statutory framework. In April 2005 a consultation was carried out on proposals for the vetting and barring scheme (VBS). Further engagement with stakeholders on the policy detail was carried out in December 2005, January, March and April 2006 on the Independent Barring Board (IBB). The Department continues to consult with stakeholders as the VBS systems and processes are developed in more detail.
	Proposals for the Education and Inspections Bill were set out in the Schools White Paper "Higher Standards, Better Schools for All—More Choice for Parents and Pupils" published on 25 October 2005. This followed on from the DfES Five Year Strategy published in July 2004 which was extensively consulted upon. In addition, it enacts the policies that were set out in the 2005 Labour party manifesto. The Department discussed the White Paper with a very wide range of stakeholders over recent months.

Electronic Children's Database

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which public sector bodies will have access to the new electronic children's database.

Beverley Hughes: Practitioners from health, education, social care, and youth justice will be granted access to the information sharing index. Access will be granted according to the role of the practitioner. For example, in a school a small number of named designated staff, such as teachers of children with special educational needs or who have pastoral or child protection responsibilities, would have access.
	We will be consulting over the autumn on draft regulations that will bring the information sharing index into operation. Among other issues, the regulations will specify the types of practitioners in the Children's Workforce whose role would make it appropriate for them to have access to the index. All practitioners with access will have appropriate Criminal Records Bureau checks and to have undergone relevant training.

Electronic Children's Database

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the  (a) personal attributes and  (b) fields which the electronic Children's Database will have the capability to hold.

Beverley Hughes: The information sharing index will contain only limited and basic information about children in England and contact details for other services working with the child or young person. It will enable practitioners to identify and contact one another easily and quickly, so that they can share relevant information about children who need services or about whose welfare they are concerned.
	It will not record information on personal attributes such as children's diet, church attendance or school attainment. The Children's Act 2004 specifically prohibits the inclusion of any case information on the index. There will be no subjective opinions or observations about a child or parent, no details of assessments such as the Common Assessment Framework and no automatic triggers for action or investigation.
	Information fields on the index will hold for each child or young person:
	basic identifying information: name, address, gender, date of birth, and a unique identifying number based on the existing child reference number/national insurance number;
	basic identifying information about the child's parent or carer;
	Contact details for services involved with the child: as a minimum school and GP practice, and other services where appropriate and if consent from the child or family has left obtained in respect of a sensitive service.
	the facility for practitioners to indicate to others that they have information to share, have taken action, or have undertaken a Common Assessment Framework, in relation to a child; and
	other information included solely for the purposes of identifying and managing the quality of data in the index, for example the date of the last update to the record.
	We will consult over the autumn on draft regulations that will bring the index into operation. The draft regulations will be laid before both Houses for debate under affirmative resolution procedures. Subject to the will of Parliament, the index is expected to be available in all local areas in England by the end of 2008.

Learning and Skills Council

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of further education Learning and Skills Council funding was spent on 19 to 25-year-olds in 2005-06; and what proportion is planned to be spent in the next two financial years.

Bill Rammell: For the most recently completed academic year, 2004/05, 27 per cent. of the adult further education budget was spent on young adults aged 19 to 25. Figures for 2005/06 are not yet available. We have not set out specific plans for the proportion of the adult FE budget to be spent on this cohort for 2006/07 or 2007/08. However, we have announced a new free entitlement to a first full level 3 for 19to 25-year-olds from 2007/08 and an additional£25 million will be available to support this entitlement.

Modern Languages

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students  (a) aged 14 years and over and  (b) at university level studied modern languages in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: The available information is given in the tables.
	
		
			  15-year-old pupils( 1)  entered for a GCSE foreign language, England 
			  Academic year  Number 
			 1995/96 439,318 
			 1996/97 434,054 
			 1997/98 442,130 
			 1998/99 499,897 
			 1999/2000 454,574 
			 2000/01 468,487 
			 2001/02 456,805 
			 2002/03 449,376 
			 2003/04 430,397 
			 2004/05(2) 365,320 
			 (1) Pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August.(2) 2004/05 GCSE examinations saw the first pupils for whom modern foreign languages were not compulsory. 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupils entered for an A-Level foreign language, England 
			  Academic year  Number 
			 1995/96 43,123 
			 1996/97 41,750 
			 1997/98 36,568 
			 1998/99 34,484 
			 1999/2000 30,997 
			 2000/01 30,905 
			 2001/02 28,252 
			 2002/03 27,475 
			 2003/04 27,052 
			 2004/05 26,665 
		
	
	 FE level enrolments
	In 2004/05, 120,000 aims funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) could be classified as 'Other (i.e. non-British) languages, literature and culture'. Figures for foreign languages can not be identified separately in earlier years.
	
		
			  UK domiciled enrolments to modern language HE courses at English HE institutions( 1) 
			  Academic year  Postgraduate  Undergraduate  Total 
			 1995/96(2) 2,005 35,000 37,005 
			 1996/97 2,095 33,755 35,850 
			 1997/98 1,955 32,020 33,975 
			 1998/99 1,900 29,325 31,225 
			 1999/2000 1,930 27,920 29,850 
			 2000/01 1,770 26,675 28,445 
			 2001/02 1,915 26,975 28,890 
			 2002/03(3) 2,125 32,270 34,405 
			 2003/04 2,180 31,135 33,315 
			 2004/05 2,005 29,455 31,455 
			 (1) Figures exclude the Open university as subject of study can not be consistently identified across the 10 years.(2) Figures up to and including 2001/02 include those students studying on balanced combinations within languages.(3) Figures for 2002/03 onwards are not comparable to earlier years due to changes in recording subject of study. For 2001/02 and earlier, figures are on a major subject of study basis. For 2002/03 onwards students are apportioned between all subjects of study. Note:Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December (excluding those writing up, on sabbatical or dormant) and are rounded to thenearest 5. Source:Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.

Youth Opportunity Cards

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements are in place to ensure the technology is available to launch the pilot schemes for the youth opportunity cards in Sunderland during autumn 2006.

Beverley Hughes: We are currently exploring the options to ensure that the appropriate delivery vehicle is available to deliver the Youth Opportunity Card. There is a great deal of detailed analysis to be done and it is important to take the time to ensure we get it right. The priority is to ensure that the technological solution can deliver the functionality required. We are working to the pilot schemes launch as soon as possible, although we may have to revise the original position of timescale.